Sixty years ago the Soldiers Monument stood over 7th and Hamilton, as it still does. While today businesses limit restroom use to patrons, at that time the city provided underground public comfort stations at the square, staffed by full time attendants. The stores attracted so many shoppers, the police needed a tower for crowd overview. While fifty stores lined each block, lawyers, doctors, accountants and tailors occupied the offices above. Times change. If we find that the Monument impedes traffic flow for the new arena, they can move it to a less inconvenient location.
The lane choice for the trolley seems a little odd. Also note the WAEB studios on the top floor. One day, the DJs went on and on about how large the statue's head was in relation to its body. They looked straight out on it 24 hours a day.
ReplyDeleteIt's a deceiving photograph. The trolley pole closest to the photographer is raised, indicating that the car is moving away from him. I suspect that the person inside is a passenger, an not an LVT driver.
ReplyDeleteI'm more intrigued by the police tower. It was probably best if the officer on duty not think about what might happen should a truck slam into the tower base.
Pretty clear by this great picture that co-existence by bus, car and trolley was tenuous at best. Something had to go and it was the trolleys. It sure seemed by looking at these photos that maintenance was either deferred on trolleys or non-existent. They look old, tired and ready for the scrap yard by the late forties. Did "someone" know that their future was "short-lived"?
ReplyDeleteFunny thing is, with the lack of busses and overall traffic in downtown Allentown today, now would be an ideal time to have electric trolleys.
VOR